The Republican journal., 1887-04-28
prototype in Guadalajara, for hundreds of ma
live NQmnu Sueul thric lives in makiu.r clntles

prototype in Guadalajara, for hundreds of na-
tive women spend their lives in making clothes
for these rag figures. in the most accurate and
particular manner possible. The ra%-figure-
maker is an artist in his way, and produces
perfect ikcncs>c> of men. women and child
rcn, representing all cainys and classes in
MeXco-from ragged lcpcros to Senorita> of
fashion. Sandal->hod water-carricrS and poul-
try-vcnderS. elegantly attircd rnboH"ros or
gentlemen of leisure. nuns, priests and ser
wants.
Like the Occidental nations. Mexico has
manufacture of textile fabrics peculiarly its
own. The Mexican weaver Of silk and cocoa
goods uses Il loom resembling nothing ever
seen north of the Rio Grande-a primitive
and clumsy affair. yet which turns out remark
ably good work. As no village. however poor.
is without its rcbDsn and srr0j)c manufacturer,
one may see scores of them in operation in al
most any street of Glladala jara.
One has also chance to study the ingenuity
of the
WAN-WoRkERS.
who ctcrnally fa>honng fruits and low
er>, Large as life and twice is NATURAL. as
Mrs. Darlington observed of the crocodile. Ask
one OF these dark-Sknned Workmcn for an :ip-
pie or an Grange. and with incredible rapi,'ity
he will manufacture one which would tempt
the gods to he deceived bv its exact shape and
delicate fruity bloom. 1t is merely layer of
WAX over forms of l'opter-mochc. but the soft
or so accurately applied. that one is lost in
;>toni>hnent.
Mexican gold and silver embroidery. thread
lace. drawn" work. and intricate mcedIe-work
also commands universal admiration. But the
richest and most curious of all i the piuntUic.
or fcahcr-work. which is made only in MeNi-
90. and nowhere better than in Guadaalara.-
the secret of which is known only to certain
families in which it has been preserved for
centuries. In this city there are elegant mall
Sion> decorated, somethin. a. were HontcZu-
mas palaces with fcather-work the most elaI-
oratc. which is neither tapestry nor applique.
nor Is il woven into nor sewn upon the found:-
ton. There li, magnificent curtains Also be
sides a'ar-cloth>. >carf>. han@ing> and other
rirrorai ions made of some heavy material or
namcnted III an indc>clbably brilliant manner
hy leaves and foliage Of embroidery. in which
birds stand out in bold relief u, caliSt the latter
are made of the natural I!uuia-c of the birds
Themselves BY some ny>t, riou> process known
only 10 the artists these real feathers are
wrought upon the stuffed surface : naturally
that the bird from Which the plHmage camc l.
perfectly reproduced.
Tie same art is also exercised upon cards.
large and small. -carf-,in>. hair ornaments.
etc.. and the tinic> ili,.nmnrnir> 10 the tallc>
of the >toik family are accurately represented.
The piHmnlje Of the ancient MeNican> has often
been described hN early writers. and Il few rag
-"d specimens of the royal fcather-cloak> Worn
hy MontrZina an,i his mobiles. may still be seen
huttcllng upon the walls of museums. The
nuns of later days became greatly skilled in
the art, and made mosaic pictures oi feathers.
which. we are told exceeded any painting
ever seen in beauty and hriancy OF rolorin-.
Thai can readily believe. considering The
gorgeous pumage of parrots. macaw> ami
other Mexican birds.
Formerly all the foreign trade of t;ua,liIa-
jara WAS carried on through the port Of san
l'la>. hut j, now removed to the superior lar-
hor- Of Guyama- and MaZallan-a> our social
i>tir friends Of the American coiony of Topolo-
bampo bay. on the coast ul Snap: hope III
time 10 mon"poliZe it themselves.
FANNIE l;. W ARD